Philippine President Marcos has ordered a probe into alleged foreign interference in May’s elections, following claims that China-backed troll farms aim to sway voters and promote pro-China candidates, accusations Beijing strongly denies.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has launched an investigation into possible foreign interference in the country’s upcoming May elections, following warnings from national security officials about suspected Chinese state-backed influence operations.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro called the reports "alarming" and said a full investigation would be conducted. The move came after a top National Security Council official testified in a Senate hearing about signs of Chinese information operations targeting the electoral process.
Senator Francis Tolentino presented what he claimed was evidence linking the Chinese embassy in Manila to local "troll farm" operations. He alleged that the embassy paid a local marketing firm to run online campaigns, citing a copy of a cheque he said was issued by the Chinese mission.
According to Tolentino, these troll farms were involved not only in spreading Chinese government messaging but also in covertly undermining the Philippine government and influencing public opinion in favor of pro-China candidates. However, he did not name any specific candidates.
China's foreign ministry and its embassy in Manila have denied all accusations, calling them false and politically motivated. They emphasized China's non-interference policy and accused Philippine politicians of using anti-China rhetoric for political gain.
The allegations come as tensions continue between Manila and Beijing, especially over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The upcoming elections will fill 317 congressional seats and thousands of local posts, with key focus on the race for 12 of the 24 Senate seats.
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China has cautioned Manila, the capital of the Philippines, against relying on foreign support in the South China Sea dispute, following critical remarks from the EU.
The Philippines has inked a $700 million agreement with South Korea's KAI to acquire 12 advanced FA-50 fighter jets by 2030, enhancing its military capabilities amid regional tensions.
China has rejected accusations made by the defense chiefs of the US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines, who last week raised concerns over Beijing’s actions in the East and South China Seas.
The Philippines and the European Union have agreed to launch a security and defense dialogue aimed at addressing emerging challenges such as cyber threats and foreign interference, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo announced on Monday.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened his counterparts from India, Japan, and Australia on Tuesday for a high-stakes meeting of the Indo-Pacific Quad, aiming to reaffirm the group's commitment to countering China’s influence in the region.
A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday rejected Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's request to dismiss the majority of charges in a sweeping indictment, allowing the Chinese telecoms giant to face trial over allegations of trade secret theft, bank fraud, and sanctions violations.
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The U.S. Justice Department announced charges against two Chinese citizens accused of spying inside the U.S. on behalf of Beijing.
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